Huge Excitement for NPC ’17!

EXHIBITOR STAND SPACE IS ALMOST FULL WITH 12 WEEKS TO GO
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “Due to unprecedented demand bookings for this year’s National Ploughing Championships are at an all-time high. We are delighted that so many have already committed to Ploughing because that is a real seal of approval for the event. It is the primary aim of the NPA to make the event better every year for visitors and exhibitors alike and early bookings give us much more time for the optimum site design and layout.”

“There is phenomenal worldwide interest with exhibitors coming from far flung countries such as Turkey, the USA, UK, Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, France and the Netherlands to have a presence at Europe’s largest outdoor event.”

“This year the core agricultural machinery companies, as always will be the anchor exhibitors of the championships showcasing hundreds of thousands of euros worth of the latest technology. The NPA are also at the planning stage of a few new initiatives in the machinery sector of the event which will add an interesting dimension together with a range of new exhibitors featuring in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly from September 19th to 21st, creating a thrilling mix for visitors.”

“With record crowds of 283,000 visitors in attendance last year and with the site in Screggan proving to be a phenomenal success, signals would suggest another “great ploughing” is on the way.”

There is no doubt that the entrepreneurial spark is alive and well in Ireland with an unprecedented number of diverse and exciting businesses, exhibiting at the “Local Enterprise Village” at this year’s Ploughing Championships.

The Livestock Arena, Food and Lifestyle Villages are almost fully booked with the huge “dome” back again featuring over 100 exhibitors. The motor arena will be significantly bigger following hugely positive feedback in this sector last year. The dairy sector will be very well catered for with many new additions, which is particularly reflective of the times we are in and the huge surge in interest in this area.

The popular Innovation Arena is set to make a very welcome return with ground breaking technologies and cutting edge ideas that will amaze. There are only a few days left to enter – please see www.innovationarena.ie.

All of the firm favourite traditional attractions are set to return this year such as Fashion, Meggers, Sheep Shearing, Hunt Chase, Pony Games, Live Music and Dancing, Vintage Ploughing, Threshing, Sheep Dog Trials, Loy Digging, with celebrities and well known faces everywhere Ploughing 2017 is not to be missed.
In the ploughing stakes a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland bringing the number preparing to plough in Offaly over 300 for the 3 days. There has been a substantial increase in this year’s Novice class bringing the total to over 20 entrants, which proves great interest in the next generation of ploughers.

Brown Bread Qualifers

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will return to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore from 19th-21st September 2017. The popular competition is in association with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and sponsored by Aldi.

The qualifiers of The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will be held nationally through the ICA, with the Regional Finals taking place at An Grianán, ICA Adult Education Centre on Thursday 24th August. The National Semi Finals and Final will be held from 19th to 21st September at the Aldi Marquee during the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Co. Offaly.

Please click here to download our PDF with all the information on the Final National Brown Bread Federation Heats 2017

Brown Bread Baking Competition

National Brown Bread Baking Competition back by popular demand
The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will return to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore from 19th-21st September 2017. The popular competition is in association with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and sponsored by Aldi. Relaunched three years ago by the NPA, the event has proven to be a huge success, with entries from each one of the 26 counties. Top model and keen baker Holly Carpenter was joined by reigning champion Phyllis McGovern to announce details of this year’s competition.
 Speaking of the launch, MD of NPA, Anna May McHugh said,’ The National Brown Bread Baking Competition continues to be a huge attraction at the National Ploughing Championships. There wonderful prizes to be won. All federation heats will be finished by the end of June so be sure to get in early.’
The National Brown Bread Baking competition is open to both members and non-members of the ICA, and baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some serious ‘dough’, with a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in stores*. Second place will receive €1,000, €500 for third, €300 for fourth and the other semi-finalists will all get €200 each**.

NO REPRO FEE 25/05/2017 The National Brown Bread Baking Competition. Aldi will once again this year sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA). Relaunched three years ago by the NPA, the event has proven to be a huge success, with entries from each one of the 26 counties. Top model and keen baker Holly Carpenter was today joined by reigning champion Phyllis McGovern to announce details of this year’s competition. The National Brown Bread Baking competition is open to both members and non-members of the ICA, and baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some serious ‘dough’, with a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in Aldi*. The final will be held in the Aldi Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships in September. Log onto www.aldi.ie for more information. *Prize fund up to €10,000. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

The qualifiers of The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will be held nationally through the ICA, with the Regional Finals taking place at An Grianán, ICA Adult Education Centre on Thursday 24th August.  The National Semi Finals and Final will be held from 19th to 21st September at the Aldi Marquee during the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Co. Offaly.
If you think you have the recipe for success, log onto www.ica.ie for information on how to enter and further details about the county finals.

* The winner’s brown bread will also be stocked in all Aldi Stores in Ireland for a minimum of six months and they will receive a share of the profits, guaranteed to be at least €10,000.
**All winners (with the exception of first place) will receive their prizes in Aldi Vouchers.

Innovation Arena Awards 2017

Prize fund equating to over €80,000 in supports for innovative agri companies

The National Ploughing Championships Innovation Arena Awards, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Farmers Journal, has opened for applications. Irish agri companies are invited to showcase their products and innovations at the heart of the NPA Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, 19 -21 September 2017.

Innovation Awards winners will be announced across a range of categories including ‘Agri Engineering’ and ‘Agricultural Technology’. The overall start-up winner will be eligible to win up to €5,000 cash prize.
The Innovation Arena is the ideal place to showcase ground-breaking agri-related developments, whether they are inventions developed at home or professional innovations from top companies, to the thousands of visitors the National Ploughing Championships attracts each year.

Ann May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Championships; Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal and Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland
Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells – Copyright© Fennell Photography 2017

This year’s Arena will focus on putting Irish agri-innovations on a world stage and will include seminars on Brexit, Agri-Careers and Global Markets as well as facilitating networking opportunities. Last year’s competition attracted 200 entries; 55 were shortlisted as 2016 finalists and invited to exhibit in the Innovation Arena.

Ann May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Championships; Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland and Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal

Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland said: “The agri sector is of huge importance to the Irish economy and a key role of Enterprise Ireland is to help companies in the sector scale-up. The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a key event for Enterprise Ireland where we showcase the top Irish agri-innovations to international buyers. This year, we will launch a new initiative that will see an ‘Innovation Boot Camp’ held on August 22 at the Irish Farmers Journal demonstration farm in Tullamore. This Boot Camp will deliver advice, mentoring, and support for innovators in the agri sector and we look forward to seeing the next wave of Irish agri companies coming to the fore”.

Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal said: “The Farmers Journal is leading change and innovation across the agricultural industry, and indeed in our own business. Irish agricultural products both in food and manufacturing have a worldwide reputation. Our green based production systems and spin off industries are the foundation of our success. The Farmers Journal is excited about our involvement with partners Enterprise Ireland and the National Ploughing to promote established and start-up companies.”
Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships said: “The National Ploughing has been a fore runner in innovation since 1931 for agriculture and indeed rural Ireland as a whole. We are again delighted to team up with Enterprise Ireland and the Farmers Journal to facilitate the Innovation Arena for 2017. This year sees the partnership grow even stronger with the largest arena ever and a strong focus on Irish manufacturing and products.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland; Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal and Ann May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Championships

The 2017 NPA Innovation Arena prize fund equates to over €80,000 in supports – up €15,000 when compared to last year’s competition. The overall award winner will receive a top prize worth €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and The Irish Farmers Journal which includes advertising and PR support, mentoring and a cash prize of €5,000. All finalists will receive an advertising voucher to promote their innovation through the Irish Farmers Journal and a subsidised stand in the Innovation Arena for 2017. The final participants for the 2017 Innovation Arena will be selected on 22 August.

To enter this year’s Innovation Arena Awards please visit:
https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/2074/register